Portland facility would turn food into power

An alternative energy project being proposed in Northeast Portland would turn food waste into energy.

The applicant, Columbia Biogas, would build an anaerobic digestion facility capable of digesting commercial and industrial liquid as well as solid food waste to produce biogas, according to information filed this week with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Located at 6849 N.E. Columbia Blvd., the facility’s biogas will be combusted on site to generate five megawatts of electricity for PacifiCorp.

Columbia Biogas president John McKinney confirmed that the facility is looking for approval from the state DEQ but declined to comment further on the proposal until next week. The DEQ is taking comments on the project until 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 29.